After several frustrating losses throughout the first part of the GLIAC schedule, the Hillsdale College women's basketball team put together a clutch, balanced effort for a big road victory Saturday afternoon.
Sophomore guard Kelsey Cromer's fifth 3-point basket of the game, with 36 seconds to play, gave the Chargers the lead for good in a 79-75 victory at Wink Arena in Big Rapds. The win improves Hillsdale to 3-7 overall and 2-4 in conference play.
Cromer (pictured) had one double figure scoring game in her career prior to Thursday's game at Grand Valley. Now, she's put together back-to-back 19-point games, the latter of which was a big reason the Chargers won on the road. Saturday, she went 7-for-11 from the field and 5-forr-9 from 3-point land. Cromer got her first career start Saturday, and more than validated that decision by head coach Claudette Charney with a spectacular game.
Fellow sophomore guard Madison Berry had a big ballgame for the Chargers as well, scoring 16 points with 4 steals and 3 rebounds in 27 minutes. Berry has stood out as one of Hillsdale's most improved players this season, and has scored at least 7 points in six straight games.
Junior forward Megan Fogt turned in yet another double-double, with 16 points and 15 rebounds, and she made two free throws with 13 seconds to play to help sew up the win.
The game featured some huge scoring runs by both teams. FSU opened the game with a 19-10 lead, but the Chargers put a 23-5 run on the Bulldogs to snatch the lead. Junior guard Brooke Borowski hit a 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer to give the Chargers a 39-29 lead at intermission.
That lead grew to 15, 60-45, by the under-10 media timeout in the second half. But Ferris State started running its offense more efficiently, and went on a 23-2 lead to eventually go ahead 68-62.
Hillsale showed poise by responding with an 8-1 run to retake the lead. Sophomore Sarah Theut made a big difference in that late run by hitting two jump shots while grabbing an offensive rebound.
The lead changed hands five times between the 1:48 and 36-second mark in the second half, but Cromer's dagger was the big shot of the game. Hillsdale's team defense stood out on the final few possessions, forcing two Ferris State turnovers inside the last 30 seconds when the game was within three points.
Junior guard Brooke Borowski popped in 8 points off the bench, while Theut turned in a strong game with 6 points, 8 rebounds and 2 steals in 16 impactful minutes in the game.
Hillsdale is back home next week, hosting Wayne State University Thursday night.